There is evidence that even then, having won fame as a scientist and business man, Walter still dreamed of seriously taking up painting and literature. He had an aptitude for it, a fine taste and extensive knowledge, besides the gift of a publicist, a good command of the pen. But his father insisted on something else, and Walter continued to work in the firm. In 1899, he became, at the request of his father, one of the Directors of the AEG. Three years later, Walter headed the Department for the construction of power plants while maintaining the leadership of electrochemical production. His Department is engaged in the construction of enterprises in England, Argentina, Holland, Russia, Switzerland. The son embodies the motto of his father: "Do not lock yourself in your business, subordinate competitors, linking their orders." Walter's weight in the business world is growing. He is a member of the Directorate of the Berlin Bank, the management of Berliner Handels Gesellschaft and other large enterprises. In total, he was a member of the Directorate, in addition to AEG, about 80 or even 100 domestic and foreign firms. He also rises in his father's firm as one of its Directors. In 1910. he was elected Deputy Chairman of the AEG Board, and in 1912 - Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the concern. In 1915 he became President of the AEG.
In the Berlin "light" and at the court of William II could not fail to notice the son of the founder of the powerful AEG, one of the richest people in the country. Walter Rathenau is part of the" upper echelons " of the capital's society, meets with statesmen and politicians, courtiers. In 1900, he was honored to make a report on" electric alchemy " before William II and makes a good impression on the Emperor.
Political research and government activities
Walter can satisfy his political ambitions, although the politics of the then Germany was the lot of only the nobles. Besides, the" commoner " Rathenau was also a Jew, whom the court did not tolerate. However, one of the prominent officials of the Ministry of the colonies, Secretary of state, by the way, a former banker Boris Dernburg attracts Rathenau to Affairs of state. Walter is sent in August-October 1907 propulsion in as a adviser Dernburga in the German East Africa. The trip took place at the initiative of the then German Chancellor B. von Bulow in order to improve Germany's ties with its colonies. The following year (may - September 1908) the trip was repeated - this time to German South Africa and the neighboring British possessions.
Rathenau establishes relatively close ties with Bulow. The Chancellor had even intended to appoint Rathenau head of the colonial office, but this proved impossible for many reasons. Rathenau is close to the diplomatic Department. Apparently, therefore, when there was friction with France over Northern Morocco, Rathenau was part of a delegation of German businessmen led by the Mannesmans brothers, who negotiated with the French trusts. It was about mutual claims to iron ore deposits in Morocco. This trip was only part of a complex and intricate action of German diplomacy, behind which stood the interests of the"kings of steel". The result of the dispute was some time later the second Moroccan crisis ("Panther jump"), which in turn became one of the important milestones on the way to Europe's world war.
Rathenau proved himself a skillful diplomat and has achieved almost everything he wanted Mannesman. However, Rathenau was later removed from political Affairs. It is suggested that he did not share the belligerence of the leading magnates of heavy industry and even earned them (and at court) a reputation as a "pacifist". Rathenau's background also prevented his participation in politics. He was given to understand that wealth would be of little use to a Jew in politics, much less in the diplomatic service. Rathenau's attempt to enter the Reichstag from the national liberal party failed. Not helped familiarity, and then and close relations with new Chancellor Germany Theobald von Bethmann Golvegom, who took this post in 1909 propulsion Similarity origin (Bethmann Golveg released not from noble kind of, and from family a major official), proximity views on policy Germany, similarity natures allowed these people move closer, although there is no evidence their close friendship.
Nevertheless, Rathenau has proven himself in many fields, he is noticeable, known, influential. Yet he stands apart. This is largely due to the originality of his personality. An intelligent, erudite man of vast knowledge from the latest technology to sophisticated art easily tied ties with famous playwrights, writers, artists, journalists. The famous German playwright Gerhard Hauptmann, who had long been friends with Rathenau, wrote that no murderer would dare to raise a hand against Walter if he had the good fortune to talk to him for only 30 minutes.
Deep mind, a strong character and iron will, charm secular rights and austerity in personal life Rathenau (he gave vow, to not distract from Affairs, not marry and lived one) attracted the most different people. Behind him, no matter how hard they tried, there were no secret vices or discreditable connections. Pleasant to talk to, Rathenau at the same time was closed. He struck all refinement of manners, elegance in clothes. Walter was fluent in English, French and Italian.
All his free time Rathenau devoted to philosophy, art, began to act as a publicist, published in 1906 the book "on the mechanization of life" (translated into Russian in 1908).
Rathenau's real career as a statesman began during the first world war, when he became Chairman of the military raw materials Department at the Prussian war Ministry, turning it into a kind of headquarters of economic regulation. With this in fact began in Germany naval public capitalism.
Rathenau grew up and was formed in Kaiser's Germany, which was born in a series of wars and was always preparing for war. But being a supporter of humanistic views, he was an opponent of war in principle. Writes Etta Federn of Kolhaas, Rathenau knew his duty and followed it, giving their all. On the other hand, Rathenau could not be a pacifist, having convinced himself that war for Germany "is not an occupation, but a destiny." He wrote these words when the war was coming to an end. Rathenau predicted the defeat of Germany and wanted a speedy end to the war. However, when the pacifists asked him to meet at a joint conference in Switzerland to try to achieve a unified position against the war and develop a Manifesto for peace, Rathenau refused.
As you know, the first world war has long been preparing, waiting for her, and yet she came unexpectedly. All strata of society for some time United in a single impulse. Entrepreneurs were not on the sidelines, but few of them knew what to do. The Kaiser had time to say another ill-considered phrase about what awaits the return of the soldiers with a victory "to the autumn leaves." Few in Germany had any doubts about this. Among those who did not believe in the transience of war was Rathenau. He considered unfounded ambitions of Germany, took into account the sea power of great Britain, the "mystery" of the Russian soul and its faith in the king, as well as the possibility of entering the war on the side of the United States Entente. Rathenau immediately understood the difficulties of adapting the economy to war, especially in the face of the British naval blockade. The focus was on the problems of raw materials and sales of finished products. In 1913, the electrical industry in Germany accounted for 41% of the world's exports of this industry. Banks associated with both export industries and the traditional metallurgical and mining industries were also in a difficult situation. Walter Rathenau submitted a note to the Chancellor, in which he outlined the plan for the organization of the German military economy, first of all the accounting and distribution of raw materials. 13 August 1914 was created naval raw materials Department under military Ministry Prussia, which headed a W. Rathenau. The primary task of the Department was to account for the available raw materials, the needs for it for military and peaceful production and providing primarily enterprises working for the war. At the same time began to create military raw material society by industry, dealing with raw materials. Rathenau's Department coordinated their activities, gaining broad powers that allowed enforcement measures to be taken against individual entrepreneurs. Rathenau was accused of wanting to remove his competitors. Nevertheless experiment on public regulation farming lasted, although Rathenau in 1915 year forced was withdraw with office chief naval raw materials office. Through his men, he continued to influence the work of this Department and eventually earned a reputation as the Savior of the German economy and organizer of its effective action during the war. V. Rathenau joined the group of figures who determined the military policy of the country. He participated in the drafting of a number of memoranda, notes, for example, on the actions in the occupied territories, the conduct of submarine warfare, etc. it is Possible that he participated in the preparatory work for the drafting of such important documents as the law on compulsory syndication and the law of 1916. on auxiliary service to the Fatherland, which played a decisive role in the formation of state-military monopolistic capitalism in Germany. Together with other representatives of German industry, Rathenau was in the group of initiators of the "Hindenburg program", as it was called, although the field Marshal, except for the name, did not give it anything.